Praedicator

Verba

Thursday, August 13, 2009 - Thursday in the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time

[Joshua 3:7-10A, 11, 15-17 and Matthew 18:21 - 19:1]

Peter approached Jesus and asked him, "Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?" Jesus answered, "I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times...."

It is important to remember that this parable is part of the same section featured in yesterday's daily scripture about dealing with "troublemakers" or "sinners" in the community. The difference is that the attention today focuses not on the offender but on the one offended! Uh oh! Just when we were getting smug about having a handy method for dealing with "so and so" we find ourselves dealing with ourselves! The meaning of the parable is rich and the pointed message at the end is unmistakable: If we want forgiveness from God, we have to be willing and ready to forgive others. It is the second half of that statement which often produces tears.
Many folks want some way to "deal" with those who have injured them as long as it doesn't mean forgiveness. They are willing to go through the intervention with others (cf.yesterday's scripture) and "take care of" the offending party - but FORGIVE THEM? No way! This gets even more complicated when the offending party is the same person as the offended party! It can be much harder to forgive oneself than to forgive someone else!
What IS it about forgiveness that makes it one of the hardest things to do, whether we be a person of faith or not? I'm not sure what the answer is. I have only my own experience to speak from. The difference for me is the matter of faith. If the Lord commands forgiveness as part of being a Christian person, then I have to come to terms with any reluctance I have in forgiving. Peter was hoping that Jesus would quantify the matter and cut him some slack! Nothing doing! It's there in The Lord's Prayer! If we fail to forgive, then we do become our own worst enemy! AMEN